About Douglas A. Spencer

Mr. Spencer is a graduate of the State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, summa cum laude. He thereafter earned his law degree from Hofstra University's Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Mr. Spencer commenced the practice of law as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County, New York. While in the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Spencer prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases serving in the Major Crime Bureau. Mr. Spencer served the majority of his tenure with the District Attorney’s Office in the Appeals Bureau where he practiced regularly in state and federal courts. Mr. Spencer has argued successfully in the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department and the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Following the District Attorney's Office and for more than a decade, Mr. Spencer served as general and labor counsel to more than a dozen school districts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in matters relating to the education of students with disabilities, including proceedings brought pursuant to the IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and related laws.

Mr. Spencer has represented clients in litigation in state and federal courts, in matters before the Commissioner of Education, State Review Officer, Public Employment Relations Board, New York State Division of Human Rights, Office for Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in teacher disciplinary proceedings, Civil Service Law, Section 75 hearings, and impartial hearings and related appeals.

In all, Mr. Spencer has more than 17 years of practice before New York State and Federal courts, the New York State Education Department (“NYSED”), the United States Department of Education (“DOE”), the New York State Commissioner of Education, the New York State Review Officer (“SRO”), the United States Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), and the New York State Division of Human Rights (“DHR”), to name but a few.

Mr. Spencer has published several articles on behalf of the New York State School Boards Association, and lectured before the New York State Association of School Attorneys and Suffolk and Nassau County Bar Associations. Mr. Spencer has also presented on topics at the forefront of the ever-changing educational landscape, including compliance with special education and related laws, student discipline, policy development, and litigation avoidance.

Mr. Spencer combines this unique in-depth practical and technical knowledge with the industry insight, dedication, and resources to fully handle the special needs of today’s student.

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